The modifications, which have already been applied in the World Cup, will debut in the Argentine Supercup and will then be implemented in all categories
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) presented on Monday the new rules of play that will come into effect in local competitions starting with the final of the Supercopa Argentina between Estudiantes and Independiente Rivadavia, scheduled for July 21, and which will then be officially implemented in the 2026 Clausura Tournament and in the rest of the categories of Argentine football.
With this goal in mind, a meeting led by the Technical Management of the National Arbitration Directorate was held at the Ezeiza facility, attended by captains, vice-captains, and coaches from the 30 teams in the Primera División. Subsequently, the same training was conducted with representatives from the clubs in the lower divisions.
The presentation was given by the technical manager Fernando Rapallini, the chief instructor Mauro Vigliano, the chief assistant Ezequiel Brailovsky, and the international referee Nicolás Ramírez, who explained the modifications approved by the IFAB and used during the 2026 World Cup.
One of the most important changes aims to prevent deliberate time-wasting. From now on, when a player delays a throw-in or a goal kick, the referee will start a five-second countdown. If the time expires, the team will lose possession in the case of a throw-in, while if it is a goal kick, the opponent will be awarded a corner kick.
Delays of more than five seconds on throw-ins or goal kicks will be penalized
Additionally, the procedure for substitutions will also be modified. The substituted player will have a maximum of ten seconds to leave the field. If that time is exceeded, the player entering will have to wait one minute from the resumption to enter the match.
Players will have 10 seconds to leave the court after their substitution is announced
Another new feature will be related to medical attention. Any field player requesting assistance must leave the playing area and remain off for one minute before returning, unless the injury was caused by a foul sanctioned with a card.
Now, players who need medical attention must leave the field and be outside for at least one minute
Regarding the VAR, the protocol expands its intervention possibilities. In competitions that have this technology, from now on it will be able to correct expulsions for a wrongly applied second yellow card, cases of mistaken identity, and also review incorrectly awarded corners to change them to goal kicks, as long as the game has not yet resumed.
The VAR will expand its powers, including, for example, identity confusion, a rule seen in the Argentina-Switzerland match in the case of Embolo
Furthermore, the AFA confirmed the adoption of a couple of optional measures promoted by the IFAB. The first is "The Prestianni Law", a rule stating that it will be grounds for expulsion if a player, substitute, or member of the coaching staff covers their mouth to communicate with an opponent during the match. The second is that those who leave the field as a form of protest or incite other teammates to do so may also be expelled, a behavior that could even lead to sporting sanctions for the team.
The Prestianni Law will be implemented, which prevents players and coaching staff from speaking with their mouths covered to an opponent
In this way, Argentine football will realign itself with the main regulatory modifications promoted by FIFA and the IFAB, adapting its implementation according to the technological resources available in each category.
